I am sure that most people would agree that 2022 has kicked off with a bang and a fair amount of joy as we embrace the fantastic feeling that we are entering a phase of ‘still waters’ without the hideous waves of uncertainty,” says Justin van Wyk. “As for our cycle in the phases of wine growing, we are about to start with the most exciting time and that is our harvest season. Harvest is always an exciting time of year, because the moment wine grapes are picked, one can celebrate all the work that has gone into tending the vines from the previous winter season when the vines were pruned. Furthermore, it then holds in anticipation, the quality of vintage as the wines begin their journey from grape to bottle.”

“This 2022 vintage is one of the latest vintages we have experienced at Constantia Glen over the past decade. Time will tell how the red grapes mature and develop over the coming weeks, but we intend picking our white grape varieties over the first two weeks of March. The reasons for the later vintage is twofold. Firstly, a very cold spell of weather with a lot of snow on the mountains surrounding the Cape winelands at the end of August 2021. This cold weather just before the onset of Spring pushed budbreak out a week or 2 later than normal. Secondly, we had an incredibly cool spring and summer growing season, with the first really warm temperatures arising in January 2022.

We look forward to seeing what the vintage has in store for us, and we will be sure to keep you updated once we get to the end of our harvest season.

Justin Van Wyk

WINEMAKER